NEWS
Why US Bombed Sokoto First Despite Deadlier Attacks Elsewhere
Fresh details have emerged explaining why the United States carried out airstrikes in Sokoto State despite other regions of Nigeria recording higher levels of terrorist violence.
According to Emmanuel Ogebe, an international human rights lawyer and bilateral affairs expert, the decision to strike Sokoto first was driven more by strategic familiarity and operational considerations than by casualty figures or the intensity of attacks in other parts of the country.
Ogebe described Sokoto as an “unusual choice,” noting that Nigeria’s North-East, particularly Borno State, remains the epicentre of jihadist activity and recently witnessed a deadly suicide bombing.
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He also pointed to the North-Central region, especially Benue State, where repeated armed herdsmen attacks have resulted in widespread civilian deaths and displacement.
Speaking to News Express, Ogebe explained that Sokoto’s selection is closely linked to prior U.S. military experience in the area. He recalled the 2020 rescue of American citizen Philip Walton during former U.S. President Donald Trump’s first term, when U.S. special forces successfully carried out an operation in Sokoto, killing six terrorists.
“The North-West appears to be a safer operational bet for the U.S., given prior boots-on-ground experience and institutional memory from earlier missions,” Ogebe said.
He added that Sokoto’s proximity to Niger Republic likely played a key role in the decision. Until recently, the U.S. maintained military bases in Niger, giving American forces deeper familiarity with the terrain, intelligence networks and cross-border militant movements in the region.
The Nigerian government has confirmed that the airstrikes were conducted jointly with the United States and other international partners.
Ogebe described this claim as credible, referencing lessons from the 2020 Walton rescue mission, which nearly failed due to the absence of confirmed Nigerian airspace clearance.
According to accounts in former U.S. Defence Secretary Mark Esper’s memoir, American aircraft carrying Navy SEALs were already airborne when it was discovered that Nigeria’s approval had not been formally secured, creating the risk of interception.
Clearance was reportedly granted at the last minute, allowing the mission to proceed.
“This history makes it highly unlikely that the U.S. would carry out strikes on Nigerian territory today without full coordination with Nigerian authorities,” Ogebe said.
He also linked Washington’s evolving strategy to the loss of U.S. military bases in Niger following a pro-Russia military coup, noting that the development has forced the U.S. to adjust its surveillance and strike operations across the Sahel region.
However, Ogebe questioned the broader impact of the Sokoto strikes, arguing that the state is not responsible for the bulk of mass civilian killings in Nigeria.
He highlighted the situation in Benue State, where figures suggest that more than 600,000 Christians have been displaced, a number he said rivals displacement across several North-Western states combined.
Ogebe further suggested that the strikes could be connected to concerns over the abduction of American missionary pilot Dan Rideout in neighbouring Niger Republic, amid fears that he could be transferred to terrorist groups operating along the Nigeria-Niger border, similar to the Walton case.
“From a strategic standpoint, Sokoto does not explain itself unless there is a specific American interest being protected,” he said.
Ogebe, who is based in Washington, D.C., is an award-winning international human rights lawyer known for influencing U.S. congressional and foreign policy on Nigeria.
His advocacy contributed to the U.S. designation of Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organisation in 2013 and Nigeria’s classification as a Country of Particular Concern in 2020.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, on Thursday visited Bauchi State for a closed-door meeting with Governor Bala Mohammed amid growing political realignments in the country.
Obi, who is also a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) opposition coalition, arrived at the Bauchi State Government House where he proceeded to a private meeting with the governor at the Presidential Lounge.
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The purpose of the visit was not immediately known as both politicians held discussions behind closed doors.
Details of the meeting remained undisclosed at the time of filing this report.
However, sources within the Government House suggested that the meeting may be connected to recent political developments and possible alignments ahead of future elections, though this could not be independently verified.
Both leaders are expected to brief journalists after the meeting concludes.
Governor Bala Mohammed, who serves as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, has recently been at the center of political speculation regarding his party allegiance.
On March 31, he reportedly hinted at a possible political shift during a meeting with a delegation of the African Democratic Congress led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, at the Government House in Bauchi.
However, his political engagements appeared to take a different turn shortly after, as he also hosted the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, alongside Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on April 1 at the same venue.
The latest meeting with Obi has further intensified speculation about ongoing political consultations and possible future alignments among key political actors.
President Bola Tinubu has requested the approval of the Senate for a fresh external borrowing of $516.33 million, in a move that is expected to further raise concerns over Nigeria’s growing debt profile.
The request was contained in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and was read during plenary on Thursday at the National Assembly.
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According to the letter, the proposed loan is to be sourced from Deutsche Bank and will be used to finance a key infrastructure component under the government’s already approved borrowing programme—the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway project, a major road corridor designed to enhance connectivity across the country.
President Tinubu, in the request, urged the Senate to give the proposal expedited consideration and approval, stressing the importance of the project to national infrastructure development and economic growth.
Following the reading of the letter, Senate President Akpabio referred the request to the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, directing the committee to examine the proposal and submit its report within one week.
The latest borrowing request comes amid ongoing national debates over Nigeria’s debt sustainability, as the federal government continues to rely on external loans to fund large-scale infrastructure projects.
A Kaduna State High Court has rejected the bail application filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, ordering that he remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) pending the determination of his trial.
The ruling was delivered by Justice D.H. Khobo, who held that the seriousness of the allegations against the former governor, as well as concerns over possible interference with ongoing investigations, made the grant of bail inappropriate at this stage.
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El-Rufai had approached the court seeking release on bail pending trial over a nine-count charge filed by the Federal Government through the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
He argued that the offences were not capital in nature and that he posed no flight risk, citing his community ties, fixed residences, and willingness to cooperate with investigators.
He also told the court that he voluntarily returned to Nigeria to honour official invitations and challenged the validity of the charges, describing them as defective.
Additionally, he raised health concerns, requesting bail on medical grounds.
However, the prosecution opposed the application, insisting that the alleged offences were serious and economically damaging, with a likelihood that the defendant could interfere with witnesses and ongoing investigations.
In his ruling, Justice Khobo held that the gravity of the charges and the risk of interference outweighed the arguments for bail.
The court also ruled that insufficient medical evidence had been provided to justify release on health grounds.
The judge therefore ordered that El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody and directed that the trial proceed on an accelerated basis, fixing early hearing dates for the case.
The former governor will remain detained as proceedings continue in the high-profile corruption trial.
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